Dodgers Interview: Shohei Ohtani on WBC Expectations and Team Japan Unity
The "Tea Pose" and Team Chemistry
TOKYO, JAPAN — Shohei Ohtani is in Japan now, the practices are lined up, and the real WBC games are right around the corner. When Ohtani talked to the press on Wednesday, it was less about hype and more about the day-by-day work that gets you ready for a short tournament where every inning can swing the whole week.
Differences from 2023 and the “Tea Ceremony” celebration
Asked what it felt like to arrive in Tokyo with the WBC about to start, Ohtani kept it simple. “It feels like it’s starting,” he said. “We have practice tomorrow, but I want to keep adjusting all the way to the end and go in with a good condition.” When the conversation turned to where his body is right now after two tune-up games, he sounded pleased with the foundation. “Compared to last time, there were fewer games in America,” he said. “But my body is in good condition, and I’m here without injury, so at this stage I’m satisfied.”
Ohtani was also asked about the mood around Team Japan, which has looked loose and upbeat from the outside. He smiled at how quickly the roster keeps getting younger around him. “Every time I join up, more guys from the younger generation are there, so I always think, ‘I got older,’” he said. “They’re youthful, and I feel it’s a great team.”
Then, a question followed about a little team-bonding moment, a “tea pose” celebration linked to pitcher Kitayama that has shown up in games. Ohtani described it as part of the glue work that matters in a national team setting. “At meals and in different places, I talk with a lot of players,” he said. “At first, the younger guys had an atmosphere where it was hard to go talk to the older players proactively. Little by little, we’ve been communicating with each other, and as a team we want to create something good. Overall, I think we have great communication.”
“At first, the younger guys had an atmosphere where it was hard to talk… little by little, we’ve been communicating.”
A special connection to fans
When he was asked what he wants this tournament to feel like for Japan’s fans, Ohtani framed it as a rare moment where the usual club lines disappear. “I think the top players are all here,” he said. “The national team games are a chance for baseball fans to become one as Team Japan, regardless of what club they root for. If everyone supports the players’ great performances, that gives us strength.” He also spoke about the reality of tournament baseball, where the clean win is the exception. “Every team is excellent,” he said. “Like the last tournament, there aren’t many games you can win smoothly. We have to assume we might give up the first run, or fall behind by two or three. In any situation, as a team, and for me on the offensive side, if we stay calm and play, I think we can have a lot of good games.”
One of the most useful parts of the session was Ohtani talking about balance, especially this time of year when players are still building toward peak form. He was asked, in essence, how he chooses what to focus on in a short tournament build-up. Ohtani answered like a veteran who has lived the difference between productive work and empty work. “Players basically want to practice,” he said. “As long as you can, I think it’s fine to do it. But it’s early spring, and for most players it’s a time when getting to a ‘100% feeling’ is difficult. In that sense, resting takes courage, and choosing not to do certain things can also be part of training. What you do and what you leave for later depends on the player’s judgment.”
“A group of pros”
Then he zoomed out to what he likes about this group. “I’ve said it, but it’s a group of pros,” he said. “They have what they need to do established. You can clearly see, ‘This player is preparing this way.’ My impression is that truly great players have gathered here.”
Ohtani also got a very specific hitting question about his two exhibition games, where he took five plate appearances without a hit. His answer stayed process-based and practical, especially with the variety of pitching he expects in the WBC. “I faced NPB pitchers,” he said. “The impression is a little different. It’s also different from the actual tournament. But as I see different pitchers, I have to adjust, so I’m assuming I’ll face many types. Whether a hit happens or not, being able to take each at-bat and execute the plan, three at-bats and two at-bats, that was good.”
Matchup with Taiwan
A Taiwanese reporter brought up how excited fans are to finally see Japan and Taiwan match up, and asked what Ohtani thinks of Taiwan’s baseball scene. Ohtani spoke warmly about the atmosphere and what he remembers from being there. “The fans were really passionate,” he said. “I had the impression that everyone truly loves baseball. The city was really beautiful too. I liked it and I want to go again.” Then he turned to the matchup itself and how he wants to approach it as a hitter. “For Japan, especially, we want to start without getting too tight,” he said. “The pitchers have a great impression, so as one of the offensive guys, if I can have my approach against those pitchers, I’ll be happy.”
Asked about the broader growth of baseball in Asia, he kept it grounded while still acknowledging the bigger trend. “I really hope baseball in Asia as a whole gets more exciting,” he said. “That’s a good thing. In this tournament, I’m playing, and as Team Japan, I want to do everything I can for Japan to win. In that process, if both sides can give everything and play a good game, that would be great.”
Table Setting
Near the end, Ohtani was asked what he wants his first swing of the Taiwan game to look like if he ends up leading off in front of a huge audience. His answer was classic table-setter thinking, whether he hits first or in the middle. “There are a lot of great pitchers, so the start is important,” he said. “Wherever I hit, I want to pass on the job to the next hitter. If I’m at the top, getting on base is the most important thing. Not just swinging, but making good decisions and doing the job, that would be good.” And when he was asked one more time why he singled out Kitayama for that earlier team moment, Ohtani laughed at how ordinary the reason was. “There isn’t a particular reason,” he said. “He’s really serious and quiet. I’m the type who doesn’t like people being overly careful around me, so as we get to know each other, I wanted it to feel easy to talk casually. That’s why I said it.”
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